Help! Ammonia Problem

This is a discussion on Help! Ammonia Problem within the Beginner Freshwater Aquarium forums, part of the Freshwater Fish and Aquariums category; -->
I don't know what to do! i just lost two albino Cory catfishes today and now my two platies seem to be gasping for ...

I don't know what to do! i just lost two albino Cory catfishes today and now my two platies seem to be gasping for air and are on the bottom of the tank. As of right now I have 3 platies 5 neon tetras and 1 albino Cory in a 20 gallon tank The tank was cycled..I have had my tank for over 3 months now, and everything was fine.. but just yesterday two of my catfishes died, and today my platies look like they aren't doing to well. I think they might have had an ammonia poisoning because i checked my levels today and my ammonia levels were at 2ppm and everything else was zero. I did a 50% water change and used prime. Is there anything else i can do to prevent my other fishes from getting harmed?

I don't know what to do! i just lost two albino Cory catfishes today and now my two platies seem to be gasping for air and are on the bottom of the tank. As of right now I have 3 platies 5 neon tetras and 1 albino Cory in a 20 gallon tank The tank was cycled..I have had my tank for over 3 months now, and everything was fine.. but just yesterday two of my catfishes died, and today my platies look like they aren't doing to well. I think they might have had an ammonia poisoning because i checked my levels today and my ammonia levels were at 2ppm and everything else was zero. I did a 50% water change and used prime. Is there anything else i can do to prevent my other fishes from getting harmed?

If you haven't already adding live plants like anacharis would help. The plants will consume ammonia and carbon dioxide while returning oxygen.

FWIW I do not recommend Prime (or other dechlor or ammonia blocks) for ammonia. What can happen is they lock up ammonia making it safe but the ammonia test kit measures both locked and the dangerous ammonia. So you still test ammonia, add more chemicals and so on. All the while they are reducing oxygen and the fish can suffocate.

Your platies gasping for air for instance could be do to high levels of carbon dioxide.

If you haven't already adding live plants like anacharis would help. The plants will consume ammonia and carbon dioxide while returning oxygen.

FWIW I do not recommend Prime (or other dechlor or ammonia blocks) for ammonia. What can happen is they lock up ammonia making it safe but the ammonia test kit measures both locked and the dangerous ammonia. So you still test ammonia, add more chemicals and so on. All the while they are reducing oxygen and the fish can suffocate.

Your platies gasping for air for instance could be do to high levels of carbon dioxide.

Many are easy IMO. Just get a good light in your tank (like 10w cool CFL). You also might want to occasionally add ferts to keep them healthy. They easiest ones are Marimo Balls, Water Sprite, Anubias, Aponogeton, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Duck Weed. If I can do it, anyone can Posted via Mobile Device

Many are easy IMO. Just get a good light in your tank (like 10w cool CFL). You also might want to occasionally add ferts to keep them healthy. They easiest ones are Marimo Balls, Water Sprite, Anubias, Aponogeton, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Duck Weed. Posted via Mobile Device

Many are easy IMO. Just get a good light in your tank (like 10w cool CFL). You also might want to occasionally add ferts to keep them healthy. They easiest ones are Marimo Balls, Water Sprite, Anubias, Aponogeton, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Duck Weed. If I can do it, anyone can Posted via Mobile Device

+1, minus the Duckweed and adding Wisteria to the list

Prime is a great product IMHO. Though if you are going to use it often, it is worth purchasing their test kit as well (Seachem MultiTest: Ammonia kit?) . My LFS carries them for $10-$15.

As for your issue, what is your water temp? I would increase surface agitation to help remove carbon dioxide as a precaution.

Many are easy IMO. Just get a good light in your tank (like 10w cool CFL). You also might want to occasionally add ferts to keep them healthy. They easiest ones are Marimo Balls, Water Sprite, Anubias, Aponogeton, Java Fern, Java Moss, and Duck Weed. If I can do it, anyone can Posted via Mobile Device

Even just floating any stem plant works too, plant them later if you want, Brazilian Pennywort is cool with it's rounder leaves. In a hurry, just get whatever is cheap and plentiful at the store and toss it in. Plants suck up amonia between 5 and 50 times faster than the bacteria can... hey, they're just like the "quicker picker upper" paper towels.

I'd side with BBob on the additives, they still test positive and that is deceiving and temporary.

Marimo balls? that's those Japanese moss balls? I think I killed one of those already

I don't know what to do! i just lost two albino Cory catfishes today and now my two platies seem to be gasping for air and are on the bottom of the tank. As of right now I have 3 platies 5 neon tetras and 1 albino Cory in a 20 gallon tank The tank was cycled..I have had my tank for over 3 months now, and everything was fine.. but just yesterday two of my catfishes died, and today my platies look like they aren't doing to well. I think they might have had an ammonia poisoning because i checked my levels today and my ammonia levels were at 2ppm and everything else was zero. I did a 50% water change and used prime. Is there anything else i can do to prevent my other fishes from getting harmed?

The live plants, even simple floating plants, will certainly help. But you need immediate help, and this means a major water change. Your tap water is zero ammonia you mention, so fine; do a 75% water change immediately if you haven't already. This is the only way to dilute ammonia. Tomorrow do another 50% water change. If ammonia still reads above zero, do another the following day until ammonia is zero.

Use a good water conditioner, one that detoxifies ammonia can't hurt in this situation.

Having live plants would be a cushion in such circumstances, as plants grab a lot of ammonia.

And be prepared for some of the fish to die, esp the corys. Corys cannot cope with ammonia above zero. The water changes will get rid of the ammonia and let's hope help the fish. But they may be too far gone, just so you know.